ENGS 89/90 Reports

Degree Program

B.E.

Year of Graduation

2020

Project Advisor

Michael A. Kokko

Instructor

Douglas Van Citters and Solomon Diamond

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

Winter 3-6-2020

Abstract

Memorialization of the deceased is an essential part of the grieving process because it allows individuals to reminisce and honor their loved ones. There are three legal options for putting loved ones to rest in the US: burial, cremation, or medical donation. Cremation is the most popular method in the US, with rates increasing from 26% in the year 2000 to 53% in 2018. By 2035, the rate of cremation is expected to reach 79%. Many people are choosing cremation over a traditional full-service burial for several reasons, including cost and personalization. On average a full-service burial costs $7-10k, while cremation costs $1,100 on average. Cremation allows for a more personalized experience because there are many ways to memorialize ones cremated remains, a popular method being scattering. Scattering is typically performed at a special location, whether it be on land, at sea, or aerially. However, all of these options have their limitations. For example, spreading on land or at sea by hand is potentially disastrous due to environmental conditions, such as wind causing cremated remains to blow back onto the attendants. Whereas scattering from aircraft or while skydiving, can be expensive, depersonalized, and dangerous. Our sponsor, Chase Yakaboski, has determined that there is a demand for a dignified and professional scattering service using drones. The problem is that there are no commercially available drone-based scattering devices for cremated remains.

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Restricted: Campus/Dartmouth Community Only Access

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